Anxiety, PTSD & Postpartum Depression After Miscarriages & Infant Loss | Episode 082 with Lynnelle Peters

PodcastGriefFriends / FamilyMiscarriage
Written By Ashlee Proffitt
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Episode 82

This week’s guest on the podcast is Lynnelle Peters. Listen in as we talk about so many things surrounding pregnancy and infant loss. Lynnelle shares her story of motherhood that includes the joy of healthy, living babies and the heartache of 2 miscarriages, 14 months of infertility and the late term loss of her son River.

We talk about many things but maybe the most important thing we discuss is Lynnelle’s experience with anxiety, ptsd and postpartum depression — much of what she shares in regard to this topic she is bravely sharing publicly for the first time in the hopes of bringing awareness to mental health.

She begs listeners who may be experiencing some of what she is talking about to get help. She says: “Please, please don’t isolate yourself. I have walked that road and it is not healthy in any way. There is help and there is hope. You don’t need to be afraid. Even if you feel afraid. There is so much hope ahead for you and you are a good, good mom.”

This topic is one of the last things we talk about and because I think it is so important, I want to encourage you to listen all the way to the end or if you are short on time, skip a bit ahead to around the 50 minute mark. 

I am so grateful for Lynnelle bravely sharing her story. I pray that it reminds you that you are not alone. And that it’s ok to seek out help. There is absolutely no shame. We have listed a few resources for you below!

 

Questions We Answer (or try to answer) During This Episode

  • What surprised you most about grief?

  • What it looked like to walk through loss and grief while mothering small children. Lynnelle wrote these words on her blog about this topic: 

    • “Is there a secret to mothering 3 young children and finding the time to grieve in a healthy way?  I don’t think so. It’s definitely not easy and there isn’t a right or wrong way either. Often emotions have to be kept in check. Sadness stifled when a child needs attending to. Tears denied when the last thing you want to do is explain (again) why you’re crying while folding laundry or cooking dinner. After a while the tears don’t threaten to fall as often and the days don’t feel quite as grey, but the feeling of missing something, someone, remains. It’s become clear that grief shows up at unexpected times and that’s taken some getting used to.” 

  • Pregnancy After Loss - How did you know you were ready to try again? Was your husband on board? What was the actual pregnancy like?

  • Tell me about your mental health experience after Dawson, your baby after River, was born? 

 

Resources for Mental Health

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Meet Lynnelle

Hi, I'm Lynnelle, a wife and mother of 4. I also have 2 babies lost early in the 1st trimester and a son River who was delivered still at 17.5 weeks along. I've been a preschool teacher (pre-kids), a small business owner, blogger, online influencer and now am focusing solely on Knowing Motherhood, a podcast that brings hope and education to mothers experiencing maternal mental health issues, loss, adoption, special needs, etc. Gods faithfulness never ceases to amaze me as I grow in knowledge of His word.

Learn more about Lynnelle by following along via Instagram: @lynnellepeters

Also, check out her podcast: Knowing Motherhood

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Ashlee Proffitt http://www.themorning.com
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